I'm a cynic, and while this story may be partially true, this does not pass the smell test for me. Granted, 75% of what I read on Reddit seems fake in some way.
1. Homeless + internet connection? I understand the internet is somewhat essential these days. Maybe she has one of those unlimited phones and is paying $30 a month.
2. Is her kid living in her van with her? How is she keeping him clean? Where does he go while she is working and how can she afford daycare? Convenience store workers have notoriously bad hours and they need 24/7 daycare which is expensive.
If she's really a Mommy I would think she would have mentioned where he was going while she works, if only to be bitching about the cost of daycare and how it's breaking her budget.
3. The kid's father; First of all, fundy or not, there is such a thing as statutory rape. The dude should have been prosecuted and these cases are pretty easy when there is a living chyld.
But let's say she's in a state where these things are not prosecuted--the kid's dad should still be supporting the kid. In many states when a mother applies for aid, the state will go after the father automatically so the state does not have to pay for it.
I know from doing volunteer work that in some states, financial support for Moos isn't what it used to be, but you would think she would qualify for something. The WIC program used to have pretty high income limits and people in lower paying jobs could still qualify.
But yes, if she cannot afford the kid, she should be giving him up.
We also do not know how this person acts in real life. I'd venture to say someone may have offered adoption as a possibility.
Many years ago, circa 1986, I worked in an office with trashy redneck Moo. She was a single mom and I was an intern. She had a very cute little kid who was a toadler. She talked about him non-stop, including some truly weird stuff about giving him enemas every day if he didn't poop and
how he cried when he was hungry and she would tell him to shut up and go to bed. She was mentally challenged and she sounded like a 14 year old trying to take care of a kid.
One day she came to me whining about money. I'm sure was supposed to open my wallet. Instead I said something like, you know there are people out there who cannot have children who would adopt him in a heartbeat, right? I told her if she could not take care of him, she should give him up for adoption. THE CLAWS CAME OUT. She got SCARY ANGRY and told me I DON'T NEED NO MAN TO RAISE A KID and MY SISTER HAS THREE KIDS AND IS LIVING IN A HOMELESS SHELTER RIGHT NOW. EVEN IF I HAVE TO GO TO A HOMELESS SHELTER I'M NOT GIVING HIM UP. HE'S
MINE.
At least she didn't talk to me after that. Eventually someone in the office called CPS on her but she was white and CPS didn't give a shit. You know, that whole "the best place for a chyld is with his mother" bullshit.
He's probably incarcerated or a serial killer by now.